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Trump, May Agree on Need to Dismantle "Russia's Spy Networks" in US, UK

© AP Photo / Matt DunhamUS President Donald Trump, right, speaks to British Prime Minister Theresa May during in a working dinner meeting at the NATO headquarters during a NATO summit of heads of state and government in Brussels on Thursday, May 25, 2017.
US President Donald Trump, right, speaks to British Prime Minister Theresa May during in a working dinner meeting at the NATO headquarters during a NATO summit of heads of state and government in Brussels on Thursday, May 25, 2017. - Sputnik International
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The joint announcement of Donald Trump and Theresa May comes on the heels of a high-profile scandal around an alleged nerve gas attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and the mass expulsion of Moscow's diplomats from a number of countries.

US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May discussed the need to take apart "Russia's spy network" in their countries in order to stop clandestine activities and future chemical weapons attacks, the White House said in a readout of a phone conversation between the two leaders on Wednesday.

"President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom. Both leaders agreed on the importance of dismantling Russia’s spy networks in the United Kingdom and the United States to curtail Russian clandestine activities and prevent future chemical weapons attacks on either country’s soil," the readout said.

May welcomed the US leader's decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats in connection with Skripal's poisoning, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

"Prime Minister Theresa May today spoke with President Trump to welcome the US decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats in response to the use of a nerve agent in Salisbury. The PM said the US had delivered a very strong response and welcomed the breadth of international action in response to Russia’s reckless and brazen behaviour – with 26 countries now putting expulsions in place," the spokesperson said as quoted in an official press release.

READ MORE: Serbia Not to Expel Russian Diplomats Over Skripal Case

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European Business Bets on Russia, Despite Skripal Case Scaremongering
More than 25 countries, including the United States and Britain have expelled over 151 Russian diplomats in response to the alleged nerve agent attack against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England earlier this month. Britain and other Western countries blame Russia for the attack.

Russia has strongly rejected the accusations and offered assistance in the investigation. However, Moscow's request for samples of the chemical substance used to poison the Skripals has been rejected.

READ MORE: How Russian Diplomats' Expulsion Over Skripal Case Exposes Europe's Split

Former Russian intelligence officer Skripal and his daughter Yulia are in a UK hospital in critical condition after an exposure to what UK experts said was a chemical substance similar to a chemical substance allegedly developed in Russia. London has accused Russia of orchestrating the attack on the former spy and announced a series of punitive measures, including the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats.

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